Audit finds DWP chief’s yard to be overflowing

From the Daily News:

As city leaders urge residents to trim energy and water usage amid the sweltering summer months, a home audit of the chief of L.A.’s Department of Water and Power has found that even the champion of conservation is not doing enough to cut back.

Auditors last month found that lawn sprinklers at General Manager H. David Nahai’s 6,000-square-foot Deep Canyon Drive home had come on every single night for more than a year – summer or winter, rain or shine. The watering resulted in about a foot of subsurface moisture and boosted the general manager’s average water consumption – 36,185 gallons a month, or 1,190 gallons a day – higher than most of his neighbors.

And while auditors found some energy-saving efforts at Nahai’s home – and noted that his average bimonthly electric bill of $414 for 1,762 kilowatt hours a month was slightly less than those of his neighbors – they still found plenty of inefficiencies and energy-wasting appliances.

“I’m offering myself up as an example,” said Nahai, who requested the audit of his home in the community north of Beverly Hills. “Yes, I have a house that’s larger than most, and smaller than some. But we all face the same challenges. We can all take a look at where it is in our personal lives and our residences and see where water is being wasted and make a choice whether we want to cut back on that waste or not.”

Nahai – who said he is now on a personal quest to cut energy and water consumption – said that like most people, he didn’t question his average bimonthly $464 water bill and assumed that his gardener had properly adjusted the automatic lawn sprinklers. And he said he and his family – his wife, a 21-year-old and two teenagers – have taken energy-saving steps including using recirculated water in the swimming pool, low-flow toilets and a new high-efficiency washing machine.

Still, the audit’s findings come as new energy and water rate hikes are taking effect, the city is considering fines for water-wasters, and soaring summer temperatures sent energy usage Saturday to a record for weekend utility usage in June. And Nahai’s usage is significantly higher than average ratepayers citywide – who use about 18,092 gallons of water per month and 500 kilowatt hours of electricity every month.

“If he’s going to whack us with higher rates and restrictions, he better do it,” said Mel Flohr, a retired West Hills resident. “The public will cooperate without fines if they get the proper example.”

Read the rest of this story from the Los Angeles Daily News by clicking here.

Ron Kaye responds:

Like Nahai, I have low-flush toilets and I recirculate water in my pool and I have a low-energy, low water consuming washing machiine. Unlike him, I have other low energy appliances as well. You could fit five of my houses inside his so you can bet I don’t have anywhere near the amount of light bulbs or air conditioning use.

Here’s an idea: Instead of gouging the little people with endless rate hikes, what if we determine the average residential use of water and power and start charging people sharply higher rates when they go above that. And for people like Nahai maybe we should charge five to 10 times the average rate.

Read the full text of Ron Kaye’s response by clicking here.

Comments

Admin

• Log in

Credits

Powered by Vertigo & WordPress
WordPress Themes by Brian Gardner